KIRKUS REVIEW

Following the path set by her
renowned, deceased parents, young Scarlett Hart battles against monsters,
ghouls, and all other kinds of dreadful things.

As an underage hunter, Scarlett must
keep her activities a secret from the Royal Academy for the Pursuit and
Eradication of Zoological Eccentricities; she must also contend with the vile
Count Stankovic, a rival hunter who holds a personal vendetta against Hart.
Aided by her wry butler, Napoleon, Scarlett hunts spectral hounds and mummies to
earn just enough money to keep her little operation running. To keep on hunting
means risking it all, especially when her nemesis manages to get Hart in
trouble with the Academy. Monster hunt after monster hunt keeps the story
whizzing along nicely, with plot developments and revelations sprinkled
throughout in a rollicking manner. Rough and scrappy, Taylor’s illustrations
convey ghoulish cool with subtle aplomb, even as moments of action get muddled
at times from panel to panel. Muted colors and a London backdrop set an
appropriate mood, casting the monsters and baddies in a particularly gruesome
light. As more monsters pop up in Scarlett’s world, and the Count grows into an
even bigger menace, the young hunter uncovers secrets both great and small.
Meanwhile, rumors swirl about a book called the Codex Monstrorum and its dangerous properties. This graphic novel
features a cast of mostly but not exclusively light-skinned characters, with a
plucky, pale-skinned heroine at its center.

Fun for a spooky night, anchored by
likable characters and a zippy story. (Graphic horror. 10-14)

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